The Daily Whim

“All I have to say is, Ben Stein is wrong. I am an American. I am in the highest tax bracket. I also work in entertainment – which is what Mr. Stein does as well. I am fine with the tax increase. I think it patriotic that I am taxed in this way. I want to help my country. I believe the fact that I can have a job this year, and hopefully every year to come, is a privilege. Mr. Stein, there are Americans who qualify for this tax increase under the proposed plan who don’t feel ‘punished’ by it. We feel it is our duty in hard times to help the rest of America.” Linda McGibney

Well, it was Ben Stein’s arrogance that got to me (and Ms. McGibney: “I have always understood that the ‘haves’ were greedy. This is the first time I’ve heard one of them express it out loud so openly.”)

He complained that he was being “punished” because of a top tax rate rising from 36% to 39%. Imagine what he might say if it was rising to 70%, which was the top tax rate during the reign of his most beloved president, Richard Nixon, for whom he worked.

And then there’s this: Stein himself proposed a 3.5% increase in the taxes on the wealthiest, a mere four years ago: “On May 14, 2006, during an appearance on the Fox News program Your World with Neil Cavuto, Stein called for a tax increase of 3.5% for wealthy Americans, to be earmarked for soldiers and military initiatives. Indeed, Stein wrote an editorial for The New York Times critical of those who would rather make money in the world of finance than fight terrorism.”

Four years ago, Stein thought a 3.5% increase was patriotic, today a 3% increase is “punishment.” Go figure.